The U.S. government announced Monday the donation of equipment and computer software to Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office to help modernize the country’s criminal justice system and take on the big fish of crime, including drug traffickers....The U.S. donation includes 17 laptop and 19 desktop computers, 107 software licenses and two projectors, worth nearly $30,000.
We're actually spending $161.5 million on CARSI, according to the White House.
CARSI is the primary mechanism for assisting Central American governments to improve citizen security. Through CARSI, the United States supports Central American nations to reduce levels of crime and violence, boost the capacity and accountability of rule of law institutions, and expand municipal crime prevention and services for at-risk youth. From fiscal years 2008 – 2012, the United States contributed $496 million through CARSI to tackle the most immediate security threats and to build stronger institutional foundations for long-term success. FY 2012’s $135 million commitment to CARSI represented a 33 percent increase over 2011 funding, and the Administration has requested $161.5 million in FY 2014. Part of it goes to prevention efforts to keep their communities safe:
CARSI funds are also going towards gang prevention efforts in Central America.
USAID has also launched anti-gang programs aimed at preventing at-risk youth from joining gangs, as well as increasing community policing and other crime prevention initiatives.
DOJ isn't facing funding cuts. Their 2014 budget calls for adding 115 lawyers. According to Sen. Patrick Leahy's statement at yesterday's hearing, the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science recently allocated a $38 million increase in funding to the U.S. Attorneys’ Office.
The U.S. has a constitutional obligation to provide lawyers for the indigent. Adequate funding for Federal Defenders, probation and pre-trial services is essential. Helping Central America and other foreign countries help their own citizens and develop research strategies for crime-fighting should take a back seat.
The 2014 U.S. Drug Control budget reveals the amount we will spend on the war on drugs is $25.4 Billion.
Congress eased sequester cuts for air-traffic controllers. Why? So delays would not irritate the public. Those cuts were not of constitutional dimensions. Congress needs to pass the Judiciary request as soon as possible.
Where is President Obama? Given his new-found empathy for minority youth, can't he spare a little of that concern for minorities who can't afford lawyers? Are his days as a Constitutional Law teacher so far behind him, he can't remember Gideon v. Wainright? If he doesn't want to re-read it, maybe he could watch the HBO documentary Gideon's Army.
[Note to commenters: Comments must address defender services, not your view of Obama's recent remarks on race. I've heard enough on that topic in other threads. All such comments will be deleted.]
